Children in Northamptonshire have received more than 1,500 emergency food parcels this year

More than 1,500 emergency parcels from food banks have been given children in Northamptonshire this year, figures show.

The Trussell Trust said its network provided 4,156 food parcels in the area between April and September. Of those, 2,552 were for adults and 1,604 for children.

National research by the charity showed that delays with Universal Credit were the main reason for food bank referrals. The Government said the reasons why people use food banks are “complex”.

The trust expects these numbers to rise towards the end of the year, as people typically collect more supplies over winter.

In Northamptonshire, the number of food parcels handed out decreased by 19% compared with 2017, when 5,143 were distributed.

Each package contains 10 meals, which are supposed to last for three days.

Across the country the number of emergency supplies has increased by 13%.

Emma Revie, chief executive of the Trussell Trust, which supports 428 food banks across the UK, said: “Our benefits system is supposed to anchor any of us from being swept into poverty, but if Universal Credit is to do that, we need to see urgent changes.

“It’s not right that people are being forced to use food banks after weeks of waiting for Universal Credit payments. The changes announced in the budget are a good start - but they won’t solve all of the problems food banks see, and they won’t help people making new claims this winter.

“We’re seeing soaring levels of need at food banks. If the five-week wait isn’t reduced, the only way to stop even more people being forced to food banks this winter will be to pause all new claims to Universal Credit, until funding is in place to reduce the five-week wait.

“Food banks cannot continue to pick up the pieces - we have to make sure our benefits system can protect people from hunger.”

Across the East Midlands, the number of food parcels handed out increased by 3% over the time period.

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: “Universal Credit replaces an out of date, complex benefits system with cliff edges that disincentivised work and often trapped people in unemployment.

“We have just announced that we will be increasing the amount people can earn on Universal Credit by £1,000 before their payment begins to be reduced, to ensure work always pays, and introduced £1 billion to help people moving over from the old benefits system to Universal Credit.

“This is on top of the improvements we have already made - advances have increased to 100%, the seven-day waiting period has been removed and we are paying housing benefit for an additional two weeks when people move onto Universal Credit.

“The reasons why people use food banks are complex, so it’s wrong to link a rise to any one cause.”

Margaret Greenwood, shadow work and pensions secretary, said: “This Tory government is leaving people at risk of destitution as more and more people are being forced to rely on food banks.

“Nobody should be left waiting weeks for a payment and the Government must stop the botched rollout of Universal Credit now.”